The City of Frankfort Podcast

Host Sara Anderson and Finance Director Amber Moreland walk listeners through Frankfort’s city budget: what a budget covers, how departments prioritize spending, and the timeline of budget creation from February to June. The episode explains revenue sources and the difference between taxes and fees.
In this Episode: Amber shares how the city improves efficienciesHow the City involves the community in budget decisionsWhy resident input mattersand more!
The conversation closes with a fun quickfire segment where listeners get to know Amber beyond city hall, including her favorite parts of  Frankfort and what keeps her connected to the community as a fellow Frankfortian.
 

City Communications Manager, Blair Hecker presents the monthly Frankfort 15—your essential guide to the upcoming month in Kentucky's capital. This segment covers: Notable events happening around Frankfort Important dates and deadlines to know Civic participation opportunities for residents for May Unique Grant Opportunity Stay informed and connected with everything happening in Frankfort this month! Downtown Frankfort Inc - downtownfrankfort.com City of Frankfort - frankfort.ky.gov Notify Me - frankfort.ky.gov/list.aspx

Host Kenton sits down with Frankfort City Manager Jason Monroe for a fast-paced, conversation shaped entirely by questions from the community. From daily responsibilities to clearing up common misconceptions, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of local government’s most important — and often misunderstood — roles.In This Episode:- What a city manager actually does on a day-to-day basis- How the role differs from elected officials like commissioners and mayors - Real questions from Frankfort residents — answered directly and honestly Insight into decision-making, leadership, and city operations - - The city manager plays a critical role in keeping local government running smoothly, yet many residents aren’t quite sure what that looks like behind the scenes. This episode brings clarity, transparency, and a human perspective to the position. Unlike elected officials, the role is appointed and focused on execution rather than policy-setting Resident engagement helps shape priorities and keeps leadership accountable

It's Derby season in Kentucky's capital city, and this week Dr. Ellie Hasken-Wagner sits down with Susan from the legendary Coolmore America Ashford Stud in Versailles to celebrate one of the most exciting times of year for Frankfort and the entire Commonwealth. From the energy of the Governor's Derby Celebration in downtown Frankfort to the storied legacy of Thoroughbred breeding right in our backyard, this episode is a love letter to Kentucky horse country.Susan represents Coolmore Ashford Stud, the Kentucky home of Coolmore America — one of the most celebrated Thoroughbred breeding operations in the world. Nestled behind historic stone walls in Versailles, Ashford Stud is part of a global operation with major farms in Ireland and Australia. The farm is home to some of the most sought-after stallions in North America, including Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic hero American Pharoah, Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, and newly added Eclipse Award winners Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Citizen Bull for 2026. Coolmore has earned its worldwide reputation as the "Home of Champions."In the Episode: - What it's like to work at one of the world's premier breeding operations, right here in the Bluegrass
- The legacy of American Pharoah and what it means to stand a Triple Crown winner
- What excites the team about the upcoming breeding season- How Coolmore's Kentucky, Ireland, and Australia operations work together on a global scale- The public visitor experience at Ashford Stud — what guests can expect when they come to see the champions
Key Links & Resources
Downtown Frankfort Derby Day Events: downtownfrankfort.com/derby
Coolmore Ashford Stud: coolmore.com/en/america
Visit Frankfort: visitfrankfort.com
Horse Farm Tours: visithorsecountry.com

The Kentucky General Assembly has wrapped up for the year, and host Alex sits down with State Representative Erika Hancock to make sense of it all. They talk about the process, the moments that defined the session, and what unfinished business she'll be keeping an eye on heading into the interim. As someone who represents the state capital itself, Hancock brings a perspective that's hard to find anywhere else in the legislature — she's not just voting on bills that affect her district, she's doing it in the same building where she lives and works alongside her neighbors. That dual role shapes how she approaches her work, and this conversation gets into what that's really like. In this episode: - Highlights and lowlights from the legislative session - Legislation with direct impact on Frankfort and Franklin County - What it means to represent your own hometown in the General Assembly

Ever driven by a street and thought, “Why did they cut that tree down?”  In this episode we’re digging into the rest of the story.
Kenton flips the script and interviews our own podcast host, Alex, in her role as City Arborist for the City of Frankfort. Together, they break down what really goes into the decisions behind tree removal, maintenance, and urban forestry management.
From safety concerns to disease prevention and infrastructure protection, Alex explains why sometimes removing a tree is the responsible—and necessary—choice. While it may be tough to see a tree come down, there’s often more happening behind the scenes than meets the eye.In This Episode:
What a City Arborist actually does day-to-day
How trees are evaluated for removal or preservation
Common reasons the city may remove a tree
Events coming up where you can learn even more!
Urban trees are a vital part of our community—but they also require careful management to keep residents safe and infrastructure intact. This episode sheds light on the decision-making process and helps residents better understand how and why those decisions are made.

City Communications Manager, Blair Hecker presents the monthly Frankfort 15—your essential guide to the upcoming month in Kentucky's capital. This segment covers:
Notable events happening around Frankfort
Important dates and deadlines to know
Upcoming Derby celebrations and other events 
Civic participation opportunities for residents for April
Ways to get youth involved in Frankfort youth sports
Stay informed and connected with everything happening in Frankfort this month! Downtown Frankfort Inc - downtownfrankfort.com City of Frankfort - frankfort.ky.gov Notify Me - frankfort.ky.gov/list.aspx

Spring is on the way, and you know what that means in Kentucky—severe weather season is right around the corner. This week, host Scott sits down with Ray Kinney, Frankfort's Emergency Management Director, to talk about how our community prepares for tornadoes, severe storms, flooding, and other weather emergencies, especially as we come up on the one year Frankfort Flood anniversary. More importantly, Ray shares how YOU can prepare your family and home before the storms hit. Let's get prepared, Frankfort! IN THIS EPISODE: What does Frankfort's Emergency Management Department actually do?How the city prepares for severe weather events Kentucky's spring severe weather risks: tornadoes, flooding, and storms Warning systems: sirens, alerts, and how to stay informed Common preparedness mistakes people make Resources available to Frankfort residents ABOUT RAY KINNEY: Ray Kinney serves as Emergency Management Director for the City of Frankfort, coordinating emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for our community. From severe weather to public health emergencies, Ray and his team work behind the scenes to keep Frankfort safe and ready for whatever comes our way.

Host Kenton Bottoms sits down with Planning Director Eric Cockley to break down the ins and outs of reaching the right city departments, understanding the permitting process, and navigating the ordinances that govern how things work in Frankfort.
Whether you're planning a home renovation, starting a business, or just trying to figure out who to call about that thing you need—this episode is your roadmap to getting answers and getting things done.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Understanding the permitting process from start to finish
What the Planning Department actually does
Resources available to help residents through the process
ABOUT ERIC COCKLEY:
Eric Cockley serves as Planning Director for the City of Frankfort, overseeing planning and zoning, code enforcement, historic preservation, and development review. With years of experience in municipal planning, Eric helps residents and business owners navigate everything from building permits to zoning questions.
KEY TOPICS COVERED:
Building Permits
Zoning & Planning
Code Enforcement
Business Licenses
Conditional Use Applications
Historic District Requirements
Who to Call for What
QUICK REFERENCE - WHO TO CALL:
Planning & Zoning Questions → Planning Department
Building Permits → Building Inspector
Code Violations → Code Enforcement
Business Licenses → Finance Department
General Questions → City Hall Main Line

This week, we're celebrating International Women's Day with a very special guest—Kentucky's Lt. Governor AND fellow Frankfortian, Jacqueline Coleman! Hosts Sara Anderson and Alex Cunningham sit down with Lt. Governor Coleman for an inspiring conversation about women in leadership, the importance of representation, and what it takes to create a more equal future for women and girls in Kentucky and beyond. This is a powerful episode about breaking barriers, lifting each other up, and why it matters when women have a seat at the table—especially right here in Frankfort. IN THIS EPISODE: - Lt. Governor Coleman's journey into public service and leadership - The realities of being a woman leader—challenges and unexpected joys - Why representation matters for young girls across Kentucky - The power of mentorship and building support systems for women - Women leading locally in Frankfort's city government, schools, and nonprofits - Small steps communities can take to create opportunities for women and girls - Lt. Governor Coleman's advice to the next generation of women leaders - And as always, a little FRANKFORT RAPID FIRE! Lt. Governor Coleman's favorite Frankfort spots, events, and Saturday morning routine! Jacqueline Coleman is Kentucky's 58th Lieutenant Governor and a proud Frankfortian. Before serving in statewide office, she was an educator and coach, dedicating her career to empowering young people. As Lt. Governor, she continues to champion education, equity, and opportunities for all Kentuckians—especially women and girls.INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8th to honor the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It's also a call to action for accelerating gender equality and creating a more inclusive world for women and girls everywhere.